When the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee was launched, an early-production vehicle was driven up a flight of stairs in Detroit and through a glass window – caught on camera by a swarm of media. The idea was to convey the vehicle’s ruggedness and capability. Thirty years later, it remains a favorite.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1993 Jeep Grand Wagoneer listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Davenport, Iowa. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Rare one-year option Grand Wagoneer package,” the listing begins. “Only 50k original miles, auto, loaded.”
The seller is right: The ZJ-generation Grand Cherokee, which launched in 1993, could be optioned as a Grand Wagoneer for that one year only. It had largely the same equipment as the Grand Cherokee Limited but added unique pillow-style leather upholstery and a woodgrain exterior. The lower side body cladding lost its grooves, and the Grand Cherokee’s color-matched grille was replaced with a chrome grille. That aspect adds a little bit of a mystery to today’s feature vehicle, since the grille is not chrome.
Back in May, I featured an older-model (“SJ” Series) 1987 Grand Wagoneer as my Pick of the Day. The collector marketplace has taken vehicles like this to new heights. In fact, Hagerty even published a Buying Guide for people looking to get into the game.
Power for this SUV comes from a Magnum 5.2-liter V8 mated to an automatic transmission, and this engine was rated at 220 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque from the factory. The seller says that the air conditioning compressor, tires, and shock absorbers have been replaced. Also, the odometer reads just 50,567 miles, so hopefully this Grand Wagoneer has a lot of life left in it.
The Jeep name is synonymous with go-anywhere capability, and the ZJ Grand Wagoneer was at the top of its game when the going got rough: It had a fully mechanical, full-time four-wheel drive system called Quadra-Trac. It could automatically detect when four-wheel drive was needed and transfer power to the front wheels accordingly.
Jeep has of course come out with a new Grand Wagoneer as of 2023. Jeep’s website says, “The original premium SUV returns! The all-new Grand Wagoneer by Jeep combines leading edge technology, luxury, comfort, and rugged capability.” The new Grand Wagoneer will set you back $88,640.
The asking price for this 30-year-old version is $15,900. The seller says, “As nice of a 1993 as you will find!”
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com